Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital Nationalized Today

The Cabinet decided a few weeks ago to nationalize the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital and convert it into a teaching hospital. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital will be nationalized and converted into an establishment similar to the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, which provides affordable healthcare for patients, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said during a Cabinet press briefing held last June.

The Government has valued the NFTH at Rs 3.55 billion. The Government will take over the hospital and will pay the loan taken by Neville Fernando, the founder, from the Bank of Ceylon in 10 years.

He further said, that the Minister of Health will appoint a board to administer the NFTH, similar to the one administering the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital.

Medicines will be given free of charge. However, there will also be paying wards similar to the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital.

Followed by this, the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) will be taken over by the government today at 10.00 a.m. at a ceremony attended by President Maithripala Sirisena.